1932 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
American college football season
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The 1932 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1932 Southern Conference football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 39th overall and 11th and final season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). The team was led by head coach Frank Thomas, in his second year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, at Legion Field in Birmingham and at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of eight wins and two losses (8â2 overall, 5â2 in the SoCon).
- Frank Thomas (2nd season)
| 1932 Alabama Crimson Tide football | |
|---|---|
| Conference | Southern Conference |
| Record | 8â2 (5â2 SoCon) |
| Head coach |
|
| Captain | Johnny Cain |
| Home stadium | Denny Stadium Legion Field Cramton Bowl |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 9 Tennessee + | 7 | â | 0 | â | 1 | 9 | â | 0 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn + | 6 | â | 0 | â | 1 | 9 | â | 0 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LSU + | 4 | â | 0 | â | 0 | 6 | â | 3 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VPI | 6 | â | 1 | â | 0 | 8 | â | 1 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanderbilt | 4 | â | 1 | â | 2 | 6 | â | 1 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NC State | 3 | â | 1 | â | 1 | 6 | â | 1 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alabama | 5 | â | 2 | â | 0 | 8 | â | 2 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | 5 | â | 2 | â | 1 | 6 | â | 2 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duke | 5 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 7 | â | 3 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia Tech | 4 | â | 4 | â | 1 | 4 | â | 5 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 4 | â | 5 | â | 0 | 4 | â | 5 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virginia | 2 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 4 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss | 2 | â | 3 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 6 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Georgia | 2 | â | 4 | â | 2 | 2 | â | 5 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maryland | 2 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 5 | â | 6 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Carolina | 2 | â | 5 | â | 1 | 3 | â | 5 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | 1 | â | 2 | â | 1 | 5 | â | 4 | â | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VMI | 1 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 2 | â | 8 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington and Lee | 1 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 1 | â | 9 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida | 1 | â | 6 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 6 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clemson | 0 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 5 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi State | 0 | â | 4 | â | 0 | 3 | â | 5 | â | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sewanee | 0 | â | 6 | â | 0 | 2 | â | 7 | â | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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After opening the season with consecutive home victories over Southwestern and Mississippi State, Alabama traveled to George Washington and defeated the Colonials before the largest crowd to ever witness a football game in Washington, D. C. to that point. After a loss to Tennessee, Alabama rebounded with victories over Ole Miss, Kentucky and VPI (Virginia Tech) on homecoming. Following their second loss against Georgia Tech, the Crimson Tide completed their season with an upset victory over Vanderbilt and an intersectional win over Saint Mary's at San Francisco.
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 24 | Southwestern (TN)* | W 45â6 | 6,000 | [1] | |
| October 1 | Mississippi State | W 53â0 | [2] | ||
| October 8 | at George Washington* | W 28â6 | 26,000 | [3] | |
| October 15 | Tennessee | L 3â7 | 20,000 | [4] | |
| October 22 | Ole Miss |
| W 24â13 | 5,000 | [5] |
| October 29 | at Kentucky | W 12â7 | 10,000 | [6] | |
| November 5 | VPI |
| W 9â6 | 11,000 | [7] |
| November 12 | at Georgia Tech | L 0â6 | [8] | ||
| November 24 | Vanderbilt |
| W 20â0 | 18,000 | [9] |
| December 3 | at Saint Mary's* | W 6â0 | 20,000 | [10] | |
| |||||
Game summaries
Southwestern (TN)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Presbyterian |
0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| ⢠Alabama | 7 | 6 | 12 | 20 | 45 |
- Date: September 24
- Location: Denny Stadium
Tuscaloosa, Alabama - Game attendance: 6,000
- Source:[12]
In the first game of the 1932 season, Alabama defeated the Southwestern Lynx (now the Rhodes Lynx), 45â6 before 6,000 fans at Denny Stadium.[12] In the game, Johnny Cain scored two touchdowns and Foy Leach, Larry Hughes, Bob Seawall, Dixie Howell and McDaniel each scored one touchdown in the victory.[12]
Mississippi State
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Alabama | 7 | 14 | 19 | 13 | 53 |
- Date: October 1
- Location: Cramton Bowl
Montgomery, Alabama
- Source:[13]
Against their long-time rival, the Mississippi State Maroons, Alabama was victorious in their conference opener 53â0 at the Cramton Bowl.[13] In the game, Johnny Cain scored three touchdowns and Hillman Holley, Howard Chappell, Erskine Walker, Larry Hughes and Bob Turner each scored one touchdown in the victory.[13] The Maroons only crossed midfield one in the game.[13]
George Washington
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Alabama | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| George Washington |
0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
- Date: October 8
- Location: Griffith Stadium
Washington, D.C. - Game attendance: 26,000
- Source:[14]
In what was the first road game of the season, Alabama defeated the George Washington Colonials 28â6 at Griffith Stadium.[14] In the game, Johnny Cain scored a rushing touchdown in each of the four quarters, with Hillman Holley successfully converting all four extra point attempts.[14] Clarence McCarver scored the only points of the game for the Colonials with his second-quarter touchdown run.[14] The 26,000 fans that attended the game marked the largest to attend a football game in Washington.[15]
Tennessee
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Tennessee | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Alabama | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
- Date: October 15
- Location: Legion Field
Birmingham, Alabama - Game attendance: 20,000
- Source:[16]
Against the rival Tennessee, Alabama was defeated by the Volunteers, 7â3 at Legion Field in rainy conditions.[16][17] Alabama scored its only points of the game when Hillman Holley connected on a 12-yard field goal in the second quarter to take a 3â0 lead.[16] Alabama held their lead through the fourth quarter when Johnny Cain had a punt of only 12-yards from his own endzone to give Tennessee the ball at the 12-yard line.[16] Three plays later, Beattie Feathers scored on a seven-yard touchdown run and with the extra point, the Volunteers took a 7â3 lead that they would not relinquish.[16] Due to the poor weather conditions, the game was noted for both Alabama head coach Thomas and Tennessee head coach Robert Neyland calling for punt after punt, often on first and second down, in an attempt to gain field position advantage.[18] As a result, Feathers punted 21 times for Tennessee, and Cain punted 19 times for Alabama.[18] Cain's 19 punts and 914 total yards still stand as the single game school records for punts and punting yardage.[19]
Ole Miss
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ole Miss | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 13 |
| ⢠Alabama | 0 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 24 |
- Date: October 22
- Location: Denny Stadium
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Source:[20]
Against the rival Ole Miss, Alabama defeated the Rebels, 24â13 at Denny Stadium.[17][20] Alabama scored first on a seven-yard Larry Hughes touchdown run in the second quarter to take a 6â0 lead.[20] Johnny Cain extended the Alabama lead to 12â0 in the third with his 51-yard touchdown run only to have Ole Miss respond with an Earl Hudson touchdown run to cut the score to 12â7.[20] Alabama then scored touchdowns on a 53-yard Erskine Walker touchdown run before Ole Miss scored on a one-yard Larry Hughes touchdown run to give the Crimson Tide an 18â13 lead.[20] Alabama then scored on a Don Hutson touchdown run to make the final score 24â13.[20]
Kentucky
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Alabama | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
| Kentucky | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
- Date: October 29
- Location: McLean Stadium
Lexington, Kentucky
- Source:[21]
In their first conference road game of the season, Alabama defeated the Kentucky Wildcats, 12â7 at McLean Stadium.[17][21] Alabama scored first on a six-yard Hillman Holley touchdown run to cap a drive that included a 60-yard Holley run.[21] However, Holley then missed the extra point and Alabama took a 6â0 lead. Later in the quarter, Howard Chappell fumbled a Kentucky punt that was recovered by O. L. Davidson at the Wildcats 19-yard line.[21] Ellis T. Johnson scored on the ensuing drive and with his extra point, Kentucky took a 7â6 lead.[21] The Wildcats maintained their lead through the fourth quarter when Holley scored the game-winning touchdown on a 10-yard run for the 12â7 Alabama win.[21]
VPI
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPI | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| ⢠Alabama | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
- Date: November 5
- Location: Denny Stadium
Tuscaloosa, Alabama - Game attendance: 11,000
- Source:[22]
Against the Fighting Gobblers of VPI (now known as the Virginia Tech Hokies), Alabama won 9â6 on homecoming at Denny Field.[17][22] After a scoreless first quarter, the Gobblers took a 6â0 lead in the second after Ray Mills threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Al Casey.[22] In the third, the score was cut to 6â2 after a bad snap to Casey from the center resulted in a safety.[22] Later in the quarter Alabama took a 9â6 lead that it held to the end of the game when Dixie Howell scored a touchdown on a nine-yard run.[22]
Georgia Tech
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Georgia Tech | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
- Date: November 12
- Location: Grant Field
Atlanta, Georgia
- Source:[23]
Against the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado, Alabama lost 6â0 at Grant Field.[17][23] The only points of the game were scored in the first quarter when Tech's C. M. Galloway scored on a 75-yard touchdown run.[23] The game is notable for being the first Alabama football game that was broadcast live by way of telephonic broadcast to an audience at the University Gymnasium.[24] The broadcast was thought to be the first of its type ever made in the Southern United States, and a $.25 admission fee (equivalent to $5.9[25] in the present day) was charged for entry to the broadcast.[24]
Vanderbilt
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ⢠Alabama | 0 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
- Date: November 24
- Location: Legion Field
Birmingham, Alabama - Game attendance: 18,000
- Source:[26]
In the days that led up to their game against Vanderbilt, many sportswriters did not give Alabama a chance against a favored Commodores squad.[27] However, Alabama went on and defeated Vanderbilt on Thanksgiving Day 20â0 at Legion Field before 18,000 spectators.[17][26] After a scoreless first quarter, Jim Dildy recovered a Vanderbilt fumble at their 16-yard line. Alabama then scored a touchdown on the possession that ensued on a short run by Johnny Cain.[26] Later in the quarter, the Crimson Tide extended their lead to 13â0 after Dixie Howell threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Ralph Gandy.[26] Howell then scored the final points of the game in the fourth quarter with his 81-yard interception returned for a touchdown.[26]
Saint Mary's
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⢠Alabama | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Saint Mary's | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Date: December 3
- Location: Kezar Stadium
San Francisco - Game attendance: 20,000
- Source:[28]
In their final game of the 1932 season, Alabama defeated the Saint Mary's Gaels 6â0 before 20,000 fans at San Francisco's Kezar Stadium.[17][28] On their second offensive possession, Johnny Cain scored the only points of the game with his 71-yard touchdown run.[17][28] With the exception of Cain's long run, both defenses were dominant with both the Crimson Tide and Gaels only having allowed 113 yards of total offense.[28] Dixie Howell also starred for Alabama with his average of 45 yards for his total of 16 punts he kicked in the game.[28]